Page 73 - All About History - Issue 26-15

Nefertiti: The Queen who killed the gods

CLUES TO THE MYSTERY Joann Fletcher
examining the mummy
of the Younger Lady
The physical evidence from the Younger
Lady all point to the same conclusion…
Arm
The right arm has
been broken off,
but a detached
forearm was found Head
in the tomb that is The mummy’s head is shaved, originally
bent at the elbow leading archaeologists to conclude that
and clasping a long- it is male. However, a woman’s wig was
vanished sceptre found buried alongside the mummy, in
– the sign of a a style that was especially popular in
pharaoh. Akhenaten’s court.

Brow
There is a clear
impression of a tight-
fitting brow-band –
something that would
Face have been needed
The lower half of the face has been to support a heavy
smashed in, most likely by grave crown.
robbers shortly after the woman’s
burial. According to ancient
Egyptian religion, this would have
prevented her spirit from speaking
its name, thus preventing her from
entering the afterlife. The woman
had clearly done something to
anger her ancestors.

Ears
The mummy has two
piercings in her left ear,
which was unusual in
Beads Ancient Egypt. However,
Several loose beads have been found on the depictions of Nefertiti
mummy’s chest, left over from the necklace show her with a double
she would have worn before it was stolen. piercing.
These have been identified as Nefer beads:
the same beads on Nefertiti’s famous bust.

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